Mark Harder Breaks Down St. Louis County Consolidation Concerns

Marc Cox and Kim St. Onge cover severe storms that knocked out power across Missouri and Illinois, celebrate Mizzou, Illinois, and SLU making the NCAA Tournament, and react to petition controversy at a St. Patrick’s Day parade. The show features Kim on a Whim segments on energy costs and the future of movie theaters. Guests include Hans von Spakovsky on the Foreign Agents Registration Act, election law, and national security issues, Dom Savino from This Morning with Gordon Deal on gas prices and economic headlines, and Carl Bearden from United for Missouri discussing the proposal to eliminate the state income tax. Dan Buck joins to talk about patriotism and the World Baseball Classic. Later, Mike Nunnery from the O’Fallon Police Department explains the new Real-Time Information Center and drone response program, while Tom Ackerman breaks down March Madness matchups, Mizzou’s home-court opportunity in St. Louis, and the latest from Cardinals spring training. The show also includes In Other News with Kim St. Onge and reactions to pop culture topics including Hollywood awards and Saturday Night Live.

Marc Cox and Kim St. Onge open the hour discussing the chilly weather after recent storms, a Missouri proposal to phase out the state income tax, and travel disruptions tied to TSA staffing issues. Mike Nunnery from the O’Fallon Police Department joins to explain the new Real-Time Information Center and the Drone as First Responder program that can get eyes on a scene within about a minute and integrate with the Flock license plate reader system. Tom Ackerman joins to break down the NCAA Tournament, including Mizzou playing in St. Louis, SLU’s matchup in Buffalo, and Illinois facing a difficult path in Greenville. The hour also includes Cardinals spring training updates and a discussion about Saturday Night Live episode.

Marc Cox and Kim St. Onge discuss the NCAA Tournament and the excitement of teams and fans traveling to St. Louis as Iowa State, Purdue, Kentucky, and Missouri supporters fill the city. They break down Mizzou’s favorable draw playing Miami (FL) in St. Louis, Illinois being sent to Greenville despite a strong season, and Saint Louis University heading to Buffalo for its matchup with Georgia. The conversation also looks at potential Cinderella teams and upset picks across the bracket.

Marc Cox and Kim St. Onge talk with Mike Nunnery of the O’Fallon Police Department about the new Real-Time Information Center (RIC), a centralized operations hub supporting several St. Charles County police agencies including O’Fallon, St. Charles City, Wentzville, St. Peters, Lake St. Louis, and Cottleville. Nunnery explains the department’s Drone as First Responder program, which can get eyes on a scene within about a minute, allowing officers to view live footage and adjust their response in real time. The system will also integrate with the Flock license plate reader network to help locate stolen vehicles and suspects.

Marc Cox and Kim St. Onge talk with Carl Bearden, Executive Director of United for Missouri, about the proposal to eliminate Missouri’s state income tax and the debate among conservatives over how it would work. Dan Buck from The Buck Stops Here joins to discuss patriotism, baseball, and Team USA’s win over the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. The hour also features Kim on a Whim, where Kim and Marc talk about the future of movie theaters, declining attendance, and how streaming and rising ticket prices are changing movie-going habits.

During Kim on a Whim, Kim St. Onge and Marc Cox discuss the changing habits of moviegoers and whether movie theaters are losing their place in entertainment. They talk about declining box office numbers since the pandemic, the high cost of tickets and concessions, and how streaming services have made it easier for people to wait and watch movies at home. The segment also touches on theaters trying to survive with luxury seating and “experience” upgrades.

Marc Cox and Kim St. Onge talk with Dan Buck from The Buck Stops Here about patriotism and the global reach of baseball during the World Baseball Classic. The discussion centers on Team USA’s 2–1 win over the Dominican Republic and the pride surrounding pitcher Paul Skenes representing the country on the international stage. Buck also reflects on baseball’s spread from the United States to countries like the Dominican Republic and Japan, the passionate international fan support seen in Miami, and how the sport reflects American traditions such as merit, competition, and national pride.

Marc Cox and Kim St. Onge talk with Carl Bearden, Executive Director of United for Missouri, about the proposal to eliminate Missouri’s state income tax. Bearden explains how the plan would phase out the tax over time, addresses concerns about the Hancock Amendment and long-term triggers, and discusses how shifting toward a broader sales tax base could work. The conversation also compares Missouri’s tax structure to states like Florida and examines why supporters want the change written into the state constitution.

Marc Cox and Kim St. Onge talk with Hans von Spakovsky, Senior Legal Fellow at the Heritage Foundation, about the Foreign Agents Registration Act, claims involving Tucker Carlson and Iran contacts, and legal battles tied to the 2020 election in Wisconsin. Dom Savino from This Morning with Gordon Deal joins to discuss gas prices, oil markets, and economic headlines. The hour wraps with In Other News as Marc and Kim react to Hollywood moments from the Oscars, including political statements from celebrities, and share their thoughts on recent films. They also discuss consumer and culture stories including McDonald’s new low-cost menu aimed at budget-conscious customers and Buc-ee’s receiving an F rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Marc Cox and Kim St. Onge talk with Dom Savino from This Morning with Gordon Deal about why gas prices remain high even as oil prices fluctuate. They also discuss tensions involving Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. trade talks with China, and what economic signals are coming from retail chains like Dollar Tree and Dollar General. The conversation also touches on a potential beef plant strike and how it could impact grocery prices.